WBC: Ryan Garcia vs Floyd Mayweather Can Happen on One Condition

Mauricio Sulaiman is open to making Ryan Garcia vs Floyd Mayweather for the WBC welterweight world title.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman spoke with Hard Rock Bet ahead of Canelo Alvarez’s return to the ring on October 31.

The Mexican icon is bidding to become world champion when he challenges Christian Mbilli for the super middleweight world title in Saudi Arabia.

Sulaiman opened up on Canelo’s legacy as a fighter after it was revealed he had been training with Oleksandr Usyk ahead of the ‘Mexico vs the World’ card in Riyadh.

Elsewhere, the boxing chief also discussed the possibility of Floyd Mayweather making a sensational return against Ryan Garcia, and the impact of Turki Alalshikh since he entered the sport.

Turki Alalshikh has made boxing history

Turki Alalshikh – will he remain in boxing and does he still have the passion to stay inside the sport?

Mauricio Sulaiman: Well, he began this journey many years ago. It is clear that he has a great passion for the sport of boxing, and he has taken some gigantic steps towards making some of the great fights that people, fans, media, anyone, wanted to see for such a long time, and they were not possible to be made.

So, his impact in getting promoters to sit down and negotiate and agree, and getting a continuous programme of fights in Saudi Arabia, in the UK and in the United States, is something very good.

Last year, we did the Riyadh Season WBC Boxing Grand Prix, which was a great experience. It was a dream of my father to have a professional boxing World Cup, and it was made only through his support. So, his influence has been tremendous. Boxing is a sport that is global, and all cultures are different and it is great.

We live in a world that is so diverse, and I believe the impact that Turki Alalshikh has had will be marked in the history of the sport for eternity. I hope he remains in boxing, that his interest remains for a long time, and that he keeps supporting the boxers and the industry in the way he has done.

Floyd Mayweather can fight Ryan Garcia if he passes medicals

Would you approve of Ryan Garcia v Floyd Mayweather for the WBC welterweight title?

Mauricio Sulaiman: Well, we have a long history about these topics. There’s always the critics that come out and speculate. If Floyd Mayweather passes all the examinations, if Floyd Mayweather gets a licence from a boxing commission where the fight is to be taking place, the WBC will certainly support Floyd Mayweather.

Just as we did support Sugar Ray Leonard when he came back and fought Hagler, just as we did support Manny Pacquiao when he came back and fought Barrios, and even Ryan Garcia when he fought Barrios.

So, as long as the medical area is completely clear and covered, Floyd Mayweather—he’s an emeritus champion for the WBC, and he has never been in any scandal. He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t party. It doesn’t seem that his body has been hurt in any way. He’s always in shape.

So, if that comes to pass, that could be a possibility.

What’s your favourite Floyd Mayweather fight that you were there for? Do you have one that stands out?

Mauricio Sulaiman: Well, Floyd made many great fights. One that I really liked was against Genaro Hernández. That was a sensational match, when he won the title, and he did it soundly.

The fight with Castillo, the first one, was sensational. The way he knocked out Ángel Manfredy—he’s just an all-around great fighter for the history of boxing.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is built differently

You have confirmed your attendance for Canelo’s upcoming fight against Mbilli… you are confident the fight happens in Saudi Arabia?

Mauricio Sulaiman: Well, there’s been no indication of any postponement, and if the fighters are there, the ring officials, the doctors and the commissioners, we all have to be responsible and be there.

Sport is a means for peace in every aspect. It has shown throughout the world that life goes on. So, as long as the event is scheduled, we’ll have to be responsible and be there. And the event itself, whenever Canelo fights, the whole world stops to watch him.

How excited are you about the event, Mexico against the world?

Mauricio Sulaiman: Well, it’s a sensational card, and Canelo is fighting a true champion, a very strong champion. Christian Mbilli has great experience. He was the Continental Americas champion of the WBC, with nine title defences, then had that great fight with Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

He’s active, he’s strong, and he’s going to be a sensational test to see where Canelo stands in his boxing career today.

Canelo has trained with Oleksandr Usyk, how impressive is it that he wants to remain the best?

Mauricio Sulaiman: Well, he’s an example for the good. He is as professional and as disciplined as any of the greatest athletes, not only boxers, but athletes in the history of the sport. He takes a fight, takes one week, two weeks off, maybe, then is back in the gym.

He understands. He learned from that defeat against Floyd Mayweather. He was young and he believed everything was easy because he was such a great, powerful superstar in the making. He learned from that defeat, and he uses that as his motivation, day after day, to always try to be better at everything.

What’s it been like being on this journey with Canelo, from him being a kid to becoming a man and a great world champion and a boxing legend?

Mauricio Sulaiman: Well, it’s been a very particular experience. I met him when he was young, very shy, but always had that special charisma.

He has the different looks of a boxer. He began with Ring Telmex, which is a programme that my father and Carlos Slim designed to find talent. They’re looking for the next Julio César Chávez, and Canelo was on the list of the first generation.

So, this programme that Mr Slim put together, Ring Telmex, has produced 28 world champions, and Canelo was on the first list and was one of the first beneficiaries of this, let’s call it, scholarship or financial support, so they can practise boxing instead of having to take on two or three different jobs.

He was always shy, always funny in his own way, close-knit with a group of people, very disciplined, just a different prototype of a person who boxes. It’s been a very good experience. I’ve seen him do a lot of charity work. I’ve seen him do many good things for the people in quiet, without bragging about anything, and just fighting great fights throughout his career.